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The Eritran Peoples Movement (EPM) concluded its first congress tonight in Khartoum, Sudan. The congress, which started on the 26th of January 2005, approved its charter and organizational structure, which includes a legislative body (Central Council) with 33 seats and a 7-seat executive branch. An electoral commission composed of three professionals and eleven observers was also instituted. The commissioners include Ustaz Saleh Hamde, a veteran educator; Mr. Andeberhan Estifanos, an Eritrean refugees commissioner who disassociated himself from the PFDJ in October, and Mohammed Taha Tewekel and Jemal Hummed, journalists. The commission reported that a total of 92 votes were cast and that 3 were disqualified. Observers, including many senior opposition leaders, attended the counting of the ballots, which was conducted openly to promote transparency. Reached by phone, a jubilant Adhanom Gebremariam reported that the EPM “discussed the border issue, the new Alliance and we are very pleased and proud of our accomplishments.” Asked of the results, Mr. Adhanom Gebremariam invited us to read the official communiqué, which is being drafted and will be published following the election of the executive committee, now scheduled for tomorrow. Preliminary reports we have received indicate that Mr. Abdalla Adem received 87 votes; Dr. Tesfai Biringi and Mr. Ibrahim Secretaire garnered 82 votes each and that Dr. Mahmoud Negash and Mr. Adhanom Gebremariam obtained 80 votes each. The 33-seat Central Council also includes two women: Ms. Nadia Mohammed Ali, who resides in Sudan and Ms. Azeb Tesfamariam, who resides in the United States. The organization retained its name and has dropped its transitional logo, an eagle, in favor of a new one, a red rose. The new logo is an apparent nod to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), an organization that was founded by former University of Asmara student union president, Mr. Semere Kesete. In February '04, MDC announced that it had fully merged with the Eritrean Democratic Party (EDP), but another group headed by the afore-mentioned Dr. Biringi had indicated that it was aligning itself with EPM. In this congress, this group, as well as a breakaway group from Sagem, have opted to fully merge with the EPM. Mr. Abdalla Adem, who was also reached by telephone, explained the priorities of the EPM were to “conduct tireless dialogue to strengthen the level of trust among the opposition and strengthening our foreign relations activity to gain more friends for Eritreans struggle for justice and democracy.” |
